Tevez spent the first 69 minutes of
this thoroughly entertaining encounter watching from the bench, and he
must have been impressed even if he probably sat there wondering if he
can still be sure of a regular place.

Especially when Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero have been so quick to form what looks like quite a partnership.

Roberto Mancini's side were terrific.

Better than the scoreline suggested
and a team that already appear more than capable of sustaining a serious
challenge to Manchester United and Chelsea in the Barclays Premier
League this season.

Not to mention the teams they will soon meet in the Champions League.

Take nothing away from Bolton. They
too played well and, a rare Jussi Jaaskelainen howler aside, Owen Coyle
could have few complaints with his players.

In fact, it is a measure of what a good win this was for City because under Coyle Bolton are a strong team.

Albeit one that cost £10million less than Aguero.

Yet they were dominated by City for
long periods, the visitors performing with a blend of power and finesse
that was as effective as it was pleasing on the eye.

Opening salvo: David Silva pulls the trigger to put City in front thanks to Jussi Jaaskelainen's howler

Even since the Community Shield at
Wembley earlier this month they have grown in stature, the introduction
of Aguero seemingly providing the oil that was missing from the machine.

Now Dzeko, the scorer of what proved
the decisive third City goal, looks like a player and the focus from
opposing defenders on Aguero has suddenly given David Silva more freedom
and space to exert his influence.

City possess strength and athleticism
in abundance but they are now complementing that with ambition and
invention, scoring with ease and playing in a manner that is also
drawing the best out of players like Yaya Toure, James Milner and Gareth
Barry.

Bullet: Gareth Barry celebrates after doubling City's lead against Bolton with a fine strike from range

Clearly, they remain prone to the occasional lapse in concentration at the back.

But they are starting to benefit from continuity.

Aguero is the only addition to a group that has been together for a year now and it shows.

Add Samir Nasri to the equation and a
touch more pace and skill on the flanks would make them even more of a
threat, while the continued presence of a player of Tevez's class and
quality would leave Mancini with a squad that will be the envy of his
rivals.

Back in it: Ivan Klasnic (left) reduces his side's deficit in the first half with a well-taken effort

If Tevez thought it might be
difficult to stay at City after some of the comments he has made in
recent months, most memorably about Manchester's cuisine, the reaction
of the supporters who made the trip here should ease such fears even if
the skipper's armband remained with Vincent Kompany.

It was with a warm round of applause
that they greeted his arrival on the pitch as a replacement for Aguero,
the only boos coming from Bolton supporters hoping to unsettle the
striker.

That his first attempt on goal actually went for a throw-in probably made them think they succeeded.

Winner: Dzeko fired the ball home to put City 3-1 in front (above) before Kevin Davies pulled one back (below)

They must have been happy with the
way their side started, Zat Knight so nearly scoring after meeting a
poor clearance from Kompany with a volley that flew just wide.

But City were soon in their stride
and when Silva unleashed a 22-yard shot in the 26th minute, Jaaskelainen
contrived to let it slip through his hands and cross the line.

The ball might have taken a nasty
swerve at the last moment but the Bolton goalkeeper should have done
better and paid the price for failing to get his body behind the ball.

Flat out: Vincent Kompany (right) goes full length to win the ball with Davies in close proximity

By then Aguero had shown that, while extremely gifted, he is not perfect.

He squandered one chance when he met a
Dzeko cross with an effort that spun over the crossbar and then had a
goal disallowed when Mike Jones spotted Micah Richards's foul on Martin
Petrov.

There was no stopping Barry when the midfielder then beat Jaaskelainen with another longrange effort in the 37th minute.

To Bolton's credit they responded almost immediately.

A cross from Petrov and a fine first-time finish from Ivan Klasnic meant the hosts were back in the game.

Not his day: Sergio Aguero missed several chances before being replaced by his countryman Carlos Tevez

But City soon restored their twogoal cushion. Dzeko out-muscled Knight in pursuit of a high ball from Milner before driving a shot beyond the reach of Jaaskelainen.

Again Bolton hit back, Kevin Davies rising above Joleon Lescott to meet a 63rd-minute Petrov free-kick with a header that squeezed between Joe Hart and his left post.

But City regrouped, defended with a bit more discipline and protected their advantage to climb to the summit of the table.